Pope John Paul expressed despair at the growing number of conflicts in the world today, saying the face of Christ was marked by pain because of it and the future was "bathed in blood."
In his annual address to cardinals before Christmas, he said war and terrorism were creating ever more numerous divisions in the world, increasing the need for prayer.
"How can we forget that the face of Christ is marked by pain, by true hurt, because of the conflicts that currently bloody so many regions of the world, or threaten to be unleashed with renewed virulence?" the pontiff said.
"The situation in the Holy Land is particularly notable, but other almost forgotten wars are no less devastating. Terrorism, as well, continues to reap victims and create new barriers."
He said the Catholic Church would not cease to try to have its voice heard and would augment its prayers "in the face of this horizon bathed in blood". The 82-year-old pope regularly speaks out against war and conflict in the world, but in recent weeks has been all the more emphatic, saying earlier this month that God was angry and disappointed with man because of his warring.
The rest of the pope's address referred to events during the year, such as Youth Day celebration he attended in Canada and canonisation ceremonies he oversaw.
But he made no reference to the child sex abuse scandals that have shaken the Catholic Church in the United States and led last week to the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law, the archbishop of Boston and the most senior US Catholic figure.